Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, Zac Purton and Angus Chung Yik-lai have been taken to Prince of Wales Hospital after an afternoon of carnage at Sha Tin on Sunday.

After Ho suffered a nasty fall from Oldtown near the finish of race six, Purton, Chung and Keith Yeung Ming-lun hit the turf in a horror three-horse pile up in the ninth event.

Chung’s mount, Legend St Paul’s, broke down in the home straight during the Class Three TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine 3 Handicap (1,800m), falling into the path of Silvery Breeze under Purton and the Yeung-ridden Lupo Solitario.

Yeung walked away from the tumble and is believed to have escaped serious injuries, while Jockey Club officials confirmed Purton and Chung were conscious and talking before departing for hospital for further checks. Legend St Paul’s was humanely euthanised.

Officials had earlier said Ho was conscious with full limb movement after falling from the Chris So Wai-yin-trained Oldtown late in the Class Four TVB Leung Kuk Gala Spectacular Handicap (1,200m).

It was the latest fall in what has been a wretched couple of years for Ho, with an off-season fall in Japan leaving him with a fractured T5 vertebra in 2023.

He missed further time after another fall at Sha Tin in January last year, while he was also sidelined with a bout of concussion after a fall on the Sha Tin dirt in December.

The race nine incident brought back memories of the shocking fall in the 2021 Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m), in which Purton suffered fractures to his wrist, ribs, nose and foot.

More to follow …

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